YORK, PA – The York College dropped an overtime heart breaker 82-76 to Alvernia University in their MAC Commonwealth opener on Wednesday night in York.
The Spartans forced overtime when Jayden Rowe hit a pair of free throws with 23.1 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 64. York got a defensive stand on Alvernia's final regulation possession to head to the extra period. Alvernia would go on to outscore York 18-12 in a high scoring overtime.
Alvernia improves to 9-3 and 1-0 in the league while the Spartans fall to 7-5 and 0-1 in conference.
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans got off to a quick start in the MAC Commonwealth opener as they began the game on a 10-3 run capped by a Johnny Kennevan lay-up 2:44 into the game. Alvernia answered the Spartan start with a 9-0 run of their own to take a 12-10 lead. The Spartans wasted little time in getting back on top with a 14-2 run that pushed their lead to 24-14 with 8:49 left. York was 5-for-5 from the floor including 2-for-2 from three and 2-for-2 from the line during the spurt.
• Alvernia climbed back to within two points with a 16-8 run, slicing the Spartan lead to 32-30. Kai Cipalla hit a bucket and Chris Miers split a pair of free throws to give York a 35-30 halftime lead. York shot 41.2% from the field in the first half but just 21.4% (3-for-14) from distance while Alvernia converted 35.5% from the field and 40% from three.
• The second half was a highly competitive which is exactly what you expect from a MAC Commonwealth contest. Alvernia began the half with a prolonged 11-6 run that tied the game at 41, 7:01 into the second half. York scored six of the next eight points to take a 47-43 lead. The Spartans pushed their lead to 55-51 before the Golden Wolves went on an 8-0 run that covered 2:09 and left the Spartans trailing by four at 59-55. After a York timeout, the Spartans got a back door lay up from Miers. Nigel Cooke responded with a contested bucket of his own to push the lead back to four.
• The Spartans got a three-point play from Jackson Mascari, cutting York's deficit to one with 3:30 left. Malik Slay hit a lay-up to put Alvernia back up three before Jayden Rowe hit a jumper with 1:10 left to draw the Spartans to within one. After a Cooke free throw pushed the Alvernia advantage to 64-62. Rowe then drew a foul and converted a pair of free throws with 23.1 seconds left to tie the game. York got a big stop on their defensive end to force overtime.
• York scored eight of the first 14 points of overtime to lead 72-70 with 2:37 left. The Golden Wolves fashioned a game-winning 8-0 run as they led 78-72 with 52 seconds left. Cipalla hit back to back lay-ups to draw York to within two at 78-76 but the Golden Wolves hit four straight free throws to ice the win.
 
By The Numbers
The Spartans finished the game shooting 42% from the floor, 25.9% (7-for-27) from three and 64.7% (11-for-17) from the free throw line … the Golden Wolves shot 43.3% from the floor, 33.3% (6-for-18) from distance and 66.7% (18-for-27) from the free throw line … York out-rebounded Alvernia 46-41 … York had 15 turnovers which led to 12 Alvernia points while the Golden Wolves had just eight turnovers which led to four points … both teams had seven steals … Alvernia held a 42-40 margin in paint points … York was whistled for 22 fouls while Alvernia had 15 fouls … there were nine ties and 10 lead changes in the game.
 
Spartan Notes
York now trails Alvernia 12-6 in the all-time series as the Spartans have lost 10 straight to the Golden Wolves … the Spartans have played two overtime games this year, both at home … the loss snaps York's two game win streak … the Spartans are 3-2 in their last five games … York had 10 less free throw attempts than Alvernia, their third largest deficit of the year … York posted their third straight game with a rebounding advantage and it is their eighth game where they have won the rebounding battle … York was paced by Kai Cipalla tallied another double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds … the 15 rebounds ties his career high he set in the December 16 win over SUNY Poly … Cipalla was 10-for-22 from the floor and 3-for-5 from the line … Cipalla also had two blocks, two assists and one steal in his 41 minutes of play … Jayden Rowe added 21 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal … Chris Miers contributed seven rebounds and four assists … Nick Schroeder and Pat Gilhool each added six points off the bench for the Green and White.
 
Up Next
The Spartans return to action on Saturday afternoon when they head to Eastern University to face the Eagles. Tip time from the Nest is set for 3:00 pm.

Audio Highlights Courtesy of Darrell Henry - The Voice of the Spartans